Assessing Covi-19’s Effects on Mental Health in Nursing Students During E-Learning in Pandemic

Introduction: Covid-19 declared by WHO as a pandemic, from the time of experiencing it for the first time until now has caused many deaths all over the world. As a consequence of this pandemic, all public and private institutions tried to adapt life and work. Academic institutions in this period choose to continue with online platforms. This sudden switch from face to face to online learning has caused not only problems during lessons but also in mental and physical health of the students. Objectives: The study aims to evaluate the level of anxiety among nursing students who study at public nursing faculty in Tirana, Albania. Methods: A cross-sectional and descriptive study was performed in April- May 2023 at Faculty of Technical Medical Science Tirana, Albania. The study involved nursing students in their third year of Bachelor and first year of Professional Master and Master of Science because only these students have taken online lessons. They were 278 in total. Results:  The students responded (n = 278) to a questionnaire following GAD7 and HAM-A with some other basic information. Our findings showed that the level of moderate, severe and very severe  anxiety range 30.53%, 3.38% and 1. 53% respectively. A significant relationship was found between gender, age and psychological impact (p=.057; p=.001). The most dominant symptoms were headache (192, 69.10%) and eye irritation (191, 68.70%). 137,49.30% of the respondents think that the lockdown had moderate impact on study. Conclusions: By applying different methods of assessing the level of anxiety, we found that our nursing students experienced anxiety caused on by the COVID-19 pandemic and isolation just like other nursing students around the world. Designing and consolidating strategies (mental health services or psychological counseling) by faculty members to face similar pandemic situations in the future, would help reduce anxiety among students because they will be professionals tomorrow, thus it is important to take care for their mental health

Evaluating The Challenges That Nursing Students Faced With E- Learning During Covid-19 Pandemic

Introduction: Higher education institutions have been extremely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. E-learning was the option used during lockdown in Albania and all around the world. Students were obligated to interrupt face to face education and clinical practice. This situation put the academic institutions in difficulty because both lecturers, students and other members of university institutions have to face a new way of teaching and learning. The aim of this study is to evaluate the challenges that nursing students faced   during online learning because of lockdown and offer solution to improve this way of teaching and learning. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. The study was conducted at Faculty of Technical Medical Science, Tirana. Subjects: the population study were students of the third and fourth year of bachelor degree, master of science and professional master. They took part by voluntary way. Participants completed a self -administrated questionnaires. In this questionnaire there were questions related the efficiency of e-learning and problems related with it. Results: The highest percentage of students presented problems with the Internet during the study period; 40.1% of them did not agree to online learning; high percentage of results related to the inappropriateness of the online semester methodology; 46% of the interviewers do not believe in the continuation of online learning. Regarding the health problems, the students presented the highest percentage of headaches and stress. A significant association between gender, study field and stress level with p=0.000, p=0.002. The results are reported using descriptive statistics with counts and absolute percentages. A chi-square test was used to establish associations between variables. A p value < 0.05 was considered significant. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 20.0 statistical package. Conclusions: Students showed no preference for distance learning versus face to face. Teachers should take appropriate steps to enhance e-teaching to improve it

Molecular Characterization of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in a Patient with Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious global health problem. Patients with autoimmune diseases, such as Lupus Erythematosus, are exposed to a higher risk of acquiring infections. In this study, a molecular characterization, genomic investigation of the Hepatitis B virus, polymerase (P) and surface (S) genes, from a patient affected by Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (CLE), was presented. Viral DNA was extracted from 200 μL of serum, and the HBV-DNA was amplified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the Platinum Taq DNA Polymerase. The PCR products were purified and sequencing reactions were performed. A phylogenetic analysis was performed through maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches. The HBV CLE isolate was classified as sub-genotype D3 and related to other Italian HBV D3 genomes, and some from foreign countries. No drug resistant mutations were identified. One mutation (a.a. 168 M) was located in the last part of the major hydrophilic region (MHR) of the surface antigen (HBsAg). Moreover, three sites (351G, 526Y, 578C) in the polymerase were exclusively present in the CLE patient. The mutations identified exclusively in the HBsAg of our CLE patient may have been selected because of the Lupus autoantibodies, which are characteristic in the Lupus autoimmune disease, using a possible molecular mimicry mechanism